Louis W. Menk

Louis Wilson Menk (April 8, 1918 - November 23, 1999) was an American railway worker and executive. He served as the last president of Northern Pacific Railway 1966–1970, before the railroad was merged into Burlington Northern Railroad, and the first president and second chairman of Burlington Northern. Menk was also selected as Modern Railroads (now Railway Age) Man of the Year for 1967, an award that has continued annually and is now known as Railroader of the Year.

Early life Menk was the son of Louis Albert and Daisy Deane (Frantz) Menk. He married Martha Jane Swan on May 30, 1942. They had two children, David Louis and Barbara Ann.

Menk attended University of Denver, and Harvard Business School's six-week Advanced Management Program. He received honorary LL.D. degrees from Northwestern University (1959), Drury College (1965), University of Denver (1966), and Monmouth College.

Career 1937 to 1940, telegrapher, Union Pacific Railroad 1940 to 1965, telegrapher, dispatcher, chief dispatcher, trainmaster, vice-president, president, St. Louis-San Francisco Railway 1965 to 1966, president and director, Chicago, Burlington and Quincy Railroad October, 1966 [to March, 1970], president and director, Northern Pacific Railway. 1970 to 1981, president(1970–71), CEO(1971–78), chairman(1971–1981), Burlington Northern 1982–1983, chairman, International Harvester (CEO May–November 1982)

Publications Menk, Louis W. A Railroad Man Looks At America; Excerpts from the Speeches of Louis W. Menk. No place: privately published, n.d. [circa 1974].